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Kansas leads the U.S. in the number of wind farms under construction, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Kansas has 1,189 megawatts of wind power capacity in the pipeline, representing more than $2 billion in investments, AWEA said. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback was among the governors who called on Congress to extend the renewable-energy Production Tax Credit, which is credited as a key factor in the industry's growth.

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The U.S. added 23,000 wind-related jobs in 2014, bringing the industry's total number of jobs to 73,000, and projects with a total capacity of 12,700 megawatts were under construction at the start of 2015, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Texas had more capacity under construction than any other state at 7,500 MW, the report said. "These results show that extending the Production Tax Credit for wind power in 2013 was good for business in America. ... With a more predictable policy, we can add more jobs and keep this American success story going," AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan said.

Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy held its position as the top wind-power-supplying utility in the U.S. for the ninth year running in 2012, according to the American Wind Energy Association's annual market report. Xcel had almost 4,900 megawatts of wind power capacity at the end of last year, enough to supply 1.5 million homes, AWEA said. Minnesota dropped from fifth among states in terms of wind power capacity to seventh in 2012, the report stated.

The U.S. added 6,816 megawatts of new wind power capacity last year, 31% more than in 2010, bringing the country's total to 46,916 MW, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Wind power accounted for about 35% of the country's new capacity over the past five years, but the industry could lose momentum if the renewable-energy Production Tax Credit is allowed to lapse at the end of the year, AWEA said. "In hard economic times we're creating jobs and delivering clean, affordable electricity. But we will lose all these consumer benefits and a brand new, growing manufacturing sector if Congress allows the Production Tax Credit to expire," said AWEA CEO Denise Bode.

California led the U.S. in new wind power installations last year, with investments reaching more than $2 billion, according to the American Wind Energy Association. California added 921 megawatts of wind power capacity in 2011, accounting for more than 13.5% of the 6,810 MW installed across the country last year, AWEA said. Wind power now supplies about 5% of California's electricity requirements.

Kansas has the most wind turbines under construction at 663, according to the American Wind Energy Association. The state is expected to install more than 1,188 megawatts of wind power capacity this year. Wind projects are driven primarily by the renewable-energy Production Tax Credit, which is due to expire at the end of the year, said AWEA CEO Denise Bode.